president obama won narrowly here in florida four years ago. so far, democrats have outpaced republicans in turning those early ballots in. david, both sides now waging a fierce battle in these final few hours. >> a battle already, cecilia, thank you. >>> every four years, we watch as the vote comes in and whoever wins the electoral map, the electoral college wins the presidency. you need 270 electoral votes to win. and so tonight, george stephanopoulos with the bottom line on the best path for both campaigns. george? >> reporter: in these final hours, david, scheduling is strategy, and for president obama, it's all about his midwest firewall -- iowa, wisconsin and that big prize, ohio. he's hit those states every day since friday. nay are going to be his last three stops on monday. this electoral map shows why. if president obama can win these three, on top of the solid blue states democrats have taken in the last several elections, he will have the 271 electoral votes he needs to win, even if governor romney sweeps all the rest of the battleg